Frederick George Golding
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1887 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 23 Feb 1921, aged 33 |
| Place of Death | Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 29 years, 5 months |
| Description | 5'10" (1.78m) tall; weight 160 lbs (72.6kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair. |
| Occupation | blacksmith |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Jarrahdale Mills, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Affra Emmery Golding |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 986 |
| Date of Enlistment | 28 Aug 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | Railway Unit, Section 3 |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades |
| Date of Return | 19 Jan 1919 - 24 Feb 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A38 Ulysses |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
When Fred first entered Blackboy Hill camp he was made a trooper with the 6th Depot Squadron. However on 3 Jan 1917, with the need to raise railway units to support he Western Front, Fred was reallocated to the Railway Corps.
Appointed blacksmith on 18 Jan 1917. As a blacksmith he was paid 8/- (80 cents) per day (6/- [60 cents] per day for a private), and initially trained with the 3rd Railway Section of the 59th Railway Company (later to become the 5th Australian Broad Guage Railway Operating Company).
During the voyage to England he was admitted to the ship's hospital from 18 - 24 Apr 1917. On arrival in England they are sent to the St Lucia Barracks at Borden to undertake further training. While there he was admitted ill to hospital from 18 - 25 Apr 1917, and the unit war diary lists him as one of the men that they left behind when it departed for France on 11 May 1917. Fred's individual record has him rejoining the unit in France on 29 Sep 1917.
Initially the unit was responsible for the sharp end of the 'Midland Line' which carried and men and supplies in the Ypres area of Belgium. During the time the unit serviced the Midland Line, Fred on 24 Oct 1917 was hospitalised with trench feet, and was released back to his unit on 25 Oct 1917. On 4 Dec 1917 he was promoted to Acting Corporal, but on 9 Feb 1918 he reverted to Blacksmith.
As the front moved forward during 1917, so did the unit's base of operations. However, following the major German attack in March 1918, they unit was moved from Peselhoek further from the front lines to Audruicq, 16 kilometres from Calais on the Calais to St Omer line. During this time Fred was enjoying a fortnight's leave in England.
Granted Paris leave from 27 Jul- 3 Aug 1918, but on 25 Sep 1918 he fell foul of the law and was charged with - Failing to attend a place of parade, ordered by his superior officer. Booked to be on duty at 5:30am, he was 1 hour 10 mins late for work - train left 45 mins late on 5 Sep 1918. Awarded the loss of 7 days pay.
On 9 Dec 1918 he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth, England for a Medical Board, which confirmed the need to sent Fred back to Australia. Returned, he spent 13 - 19 Feb 1918 in in Fremantle' No 8 General Hospital from 13 - 19 Feb 1919 with influenza.
Discharged 2 Apr 1919
Post War
Affra's address after his death was 230 James street, Perth
Notes
Pay book Number 210132 Further details of Fred's war experience can be deduced from "The Cold Footed Mob - A History of the 5th Australian Broad gauge Railway Operating Company" by Tom Goode, Hesperian Press, 2016